System and method of organizing a predictions-based game through an electronic gaming system

ABSTRACT

A method of playing a predictions-based game based on a particular event, including inputting identification information into an electronic gaming system through a user interface, inputting prediction information into the electronic gaming system through the user interface, relaying the identification information and prediction information to a processing unit of a central management system that is adapted to operate the predictions-based game, monitoring the status of the particular event, determining whether the prediction information is in accordance with an outcome of the particular event at the processing unit, relaying results of the determining step to the electronic gaming system, and displaying the results on a display of the electronic gaming system.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application relates to and claims priority benefits from U.S.Provisional Patent Application 60/660,487 entitled “System and Method ofOrganizing a Predictions-Based Game Through An Electronic GamingSystem,” filed Mar. 10, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by referencein its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a system andmethod of organizing a predictions-based game through an electronicgaming system, and more particularly to a system and method of inputtingpredictions related to a game, such as “Fantasee Football,” through anelectronic gaming system, such as an electronic dart game machine.

Various establishments, such as bars and restaurants, have gamingsystems on premises. For example, the establishments may have electronicdart game machines, video games, pool tables, and the like. Further,many of these gaming systems include electronic interfaces configured toallow a user to input information and/or activate game play.

Games of chance represent one particular form of entertainment offeredby establishments. Casinos offer various types of gambling machines,e.g., slot machines, poker machines, and the like. Additionally,individuals often make predictions and/or wagers in relation to sportingevents, in an effort to derive more excitement from the sporting events.

Often, establishments offer patrons a predictions-based game for cashand prizes. Some of these games are promotional and offered to patronsat no cost, but offer patrons who predict correct results prizes.“Fantasee Football” is one such game that offers patrons a chance topredict the outcome of football games. Information regarding “FantaseeFootball” can be found at www.FantaseeFootball.com. Typically, patronswrite down their predictions and/or inform an employee at a particularestablishment of their predictions, who then records the predictions. Assuch, paper records are required to document the predictions. Theemployee later communicates the predictions to a central game location.

The paper records, however, may be lost. Additionally, predictions orwagers may be mis-recorded and/or mis-communicated.

Thus, a need exists for a system and method of efficiently inputting,recording and tabulating predictions in predictions-based games.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of playing apredictions-based game based on a particular event. The method includesinputting identification information into an electronic gaming systemthrough a user interface, inputting prediction information into theelectronic gaming system through the user interface, relaying theidentification information and prediction information to a processingunit that is programmed to operate the predictions-based game,monitoring the status of the particular event, determining whether theprediction information is in accordance with an outcome of theparticular event at the processing unit, relaying results of thedetermining step to the electronic gaming system, and displaying theresults on a display of the electronic gaming system.

The electronic gaming system may be an electronic dart game machine, avideo game, a parlor game having an activation assembly having a userinterface, or various other electronic gaming systems. The electronicgaming system may be remotely located from a location where thepredictions-based game is operated. The particular event may be asporting event, such as a baseball, football, basketball, or hockeygame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an electronic dart game machine according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a hardware configuration of theelectronic dart game machine according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of a method of operating apredictions-based game according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart of a method of monitoring predictionsmade at remote game machines according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofcertain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understoodwhen read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose ofillustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings, certainembodiments. It should be understood, however, that the presentinvention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentalities shownin the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention may be used with various electronicgaming systems, including the electronic dart golf game described inU.S. Pat. No. 6,805,354, entitled “Electronic Dart Golf Game,” issued toMartin et al (the “'354 patent”), computer jukeboxes, such as disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 6,397,189, entitled “Computer Jukebox and JukeboxNetwork,” issued to Martin et al. (the “'189 patent”), and the gamingdevices described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,729,212, entitled “Gaming deviceproviding high security communications with a remote station,” issued toMartin (the “'212 patent”). The '354 patent, the '189 patent, and the'212 patent are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

In general, embodiments of the present invention may also be used withan electronic gaming system that includes a user interface that allows auser to input information. Embodiments of the present invention may alsobe used with the remote activation assembly shown and described in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/737,054, entitled “Improved Parlor Game,”which was filed on Dec. 16, 2003, listing Martin et al, as inventors,which is also hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIG. 1 illustrates an electronic dart game machine 100 according to anembodiment of the present invention. The electronic dart game machine100 may include a coin/bill acceptor 102, a first electronic dart board104, a second electronic dart board 106, a video display 108, interfacekeys 110, and a CPU (not shown in FIG. 1). The interface keys 110 mayinclude selection keys and player change buttons. Alternatively, theelectronic dart game machine 100 may include only one electronic dartboard. Also, alternatively, the electronic dart game machine 100 mayinclude more than two electronic dart boards.

Players may input game selection information and other parametersthrough the interface keys 110, and/or a touchscreen included on thevideo display 108. The video display 108 may be a cathode ray tube (CRT)based display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a dense grid of lightemitting diodes (LEDs) or the like. The display 108 may present playerswith various game selection choices, which may be activated by pressinga corresponding interface key 110, and/or an appropriate location on thetouchscreen of the video display 108. The electronic dart game machine100 may also provide video output connectors, which may provide standardconnections to VGA, NTSC or S-video displays. The video display may thenbe mounted in a location remote from the electronic dart game machine100.

Each electronic dart board 104 and 106 may include, for example, a setof switches (which may be magnetic, mechanical or optical) associatedwith each segment (such as double 20, triple 20 and bullseye) for eachtarget value on the electronic dart board 104 or 106. When a dart hitsor contacts a segment, such as triple 20, a switch associated with thesegment closes. By scanning the set of switches with a general purposebus, the CPU included within the electronic dart game machine 100 maydetermine the switch that was closed. Consequently, the CPU maydetermine the associated target value.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a hardware configuration 200 of theelectronic dart game machine 100 according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. The hardware configuration 200 includes the videodisplay 108, the first electronic dart board 104, the second electronicdart board 106, the CPU 202 and a memory 204. The CPU 202 electronicallyconnects to the first and second dart boards 104 and 106, the videodisplay 108 and the memory 204. The memory 204 provides the CPU 202 withmemory resources and may include banks of RAM, ROM, flash memory,EEPROM, magnetic memory or the like. The CPU 202 may be a singleprocessor unit, or may be implemented with discrete logic, programmablelogic, or a combination of a high-level processor core and discretelogic. The CPU 202 includes game set-up and game mode information. Thatis, the CPU 202 controls the set-up and game play of the game. Forexample, the CPU 202 may store a plurality of games, including FantaseeFootball, an electronic dart golf game, and various other games, withinthe memory 204. During each game, the CPU 202 retrieves informationregarding the next phase of the game. For example, after a player(s)makes a prediction regarding a football game, the CPU 202 keeps trackof, and displays, the player(s)' prediction and moves on to anothercontest for a prediction, and/or awaits the results of the first game.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in addition to playing darts on theelectronic dart game machine 100, one may also utilize the electronicdart game machine to input predictions for a predictions-based game. TheCPU 202 may be programmed to allow a user to input predictions. Thepredictions-based game, for example, “Fantasee Football,” may be storedin the memory 204. Further, the electronic dart game machine 100 may benetworked to a remote server 300 of a remote central management system302 that is separate and distinct from the electronic dart game machine100. The remote central management system 302 resides at a centralizedlocation and includes hardware having a memory that stores rules,organization scoring, and other such information for thepredictions-based game and operates according to that information.

When the electronic dart game machine 100 is not in use, the CPU 202 maydisplay advertising information regarding the predictions-based game onthe video display 108 in a user attract mode. That is, informationregarding the predictions-based game may be displayed on the videodisplay 108 in order to prompt users to play the predictions-based game.For example, the CPU 202 may display “PLAY FANTASEE FOOTBALL FOR PRIZES”on the video display 108.

In operation, a user inputs a prediction into the electronic dart gamemachine 100 through a user interface, such as the interface keys 110and/or the video display 108 (which may be, e.g., a touchscreeninterface). The video display 108 guides the user through thepredictions process. For example, the electronic dart game machine 100may display a menu, which offers dart play, or predictions-based gameplay. The user selects the predictions-based game through the userinterface. For example, the user may select “Fantasee Football.” The CPU202 receives this selection and retrieves information regarding thepredictions-based game from the memory 204. The CPU 202 then operates todisplay selection information on the video display 108. The videodisplay 108 may show particular events of which a user may be allowed topredict the outcomes. For example, the video display 108 may display allNFL games on a particular Sunday. The CPU 202 receives informationregarding these events from the central management system 202 through acommunication link 304, which may include a modem, DSL, T1 lines, T3lines, wireless interfaces, satellite communication, or various othercommunications systems and methods used to connect users to, forexample, the Internet.

The user enters identification information and predictions by way of theuser interface. The CPU 202 then receives this information and relays itto the central management system 302. Thus, the electronic dart gamemachine 100 allows a user to input information for a predictions-basedgame.

The central management system 302 monitors the outcomes of theparticular events, such as NFL games, and determines whether usersaccurately predicted the results. The central management system 302 thenrelays the results of the predictions back to the electronic dart gamemachine 100, such that the results may be displayed on the video display108.

For example, a user enters identification information and predictioninformation for each NFL game played on a particular date into theelectronic dart game machine 100 through the user interface. Thisinformation is then sent to the central management system 302. Thecentral management system 302 monitors, or an operator inputs, theoutcomes of each game. The central management system 302 tabulates theresults for each user who is playing the NFL prediction game. At theconclusion of a particular predictions-based game (e.g., “predict thescore of NFL game 1,” “predict the winner of NFL game 1,” “predict thewinners of NFL games 1-3,” or “predict the winners of all NFL games on aparticular date”), the central management system 302 relays the resultsback to the electronic dart game machine 100. The CPU 202 displays theresults on the video display. For example, the CPU 202 may displaywinner information received from the central management system 302 onthe video display, such as “John Doe is the winner because he accuratelypredicted the outcome of the most games played on X date.”

Further, the CPU 202 may be configured to allow a user to view weeklyand seasonal results. That is, a user may access these results throughthe user interface, which displays an appropriate menu selection. TheCPU 202 then communicates with the central management system 302 toretrieve weekly and/or seasonal results.

Optionally, the central management system 302 may be housed within theelectronic dart game machine 302. Further, instead of using a centralmanagement system 302, information regarding the predictions-based gamemay be stored within the memory 204 of the electronic dart game machine100, which may be networked with other electronic dart game machinesand/or electronic gaming systems.

While an electronic dart game machine 100 is shown and described,embodiments of the present invention may be used with various electronicgaming systems, such as video games, trivia games, parlor games havingelectronic interfaces, and the like. Further, embodiments of the presentinvention may utilize various predictions-based games, such as thoserelating to other sports.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of a method of operating apredictions-based game according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. At 400, the game machine determines if a game, such as anelectronic dart game, is being played. If a game is being played, thegame machine operates or continues to operate the game at 402. If a gameis not being played, user attract graphics, such as “PLAY FANTASEEFOOTBALL” are displayed at 404. If the game interface is engaged at 406,the game machine displays a game menu at 408. The game menu may prompt aplayer to decide whether to play a first game, such as darts, or asecond game, such as a predictions-based game. If, at 410, apredictions-based game is selected, the game machine displays a menulisting various games/events for prediction or wagering at 412. The gamemachine then prompts the player to make predictions at 414. After theplayer has made his/her predictions, the game machine prompts the userto input identification information at 416. Identification informationmay be input before the prediction(s). The identification informationmay include a player's name, password, and/or various other informationthat may be stored in the game machine or at the central managementsystem. Once the player has input his/her predictions and identificationinformation, data representing the predictions and associatedidentification information is sent to the central management system at418.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart of a method of monitoring predictionsmade at remote game machines according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. At 500, the central management system receives aprediction(s) and associated identification information from a remotegame machine(s). The central management system then stores thisinformation. At 502, the central management system monitors outcomes ofthe various events/games of which players predicted outcomes. At 504,the central management system determines whether the events/games werepredicted accurately by the player(s).

The central management system relays results of the events/games andpredictions to the remote game machines at 506. The game machinesdisplay the results on monitors or the like. The central managementsystem may also store the results of the events/games and predictions at508. Further, the central management system may tabulate and compilestats for players at 510. For example, the central management system maykeep up-to-date prediction accuracy scores for each player. The accuracyscores may then be relayed to the game machines at 512. The gamemachines may include a menu option that allows a player to reviewaccuracy scores, rankings, and the like for various predictions-basedgame at various times, such as when a game machine is not being played.

Embodiments of the present invention may also be used with voting onfuture events. That is, an electronic gaming system, such as the dartgame machine 100, may be used to input and track voting with respect toa host of different events or occasions, such as elections, meetings,and the like.

Additionally, embodiments of the present invention may be used inconjunction with memory storage devices, such as memory buttons, thatmay be used to store a user's predictions and results, and the like. Thememory button may be positioned on a key chain. For example, in orderfor a player to register or a play a particular predictions-based game,player information is programmed, or loaded, into the button. Playerinformation may be programmed into the button at a central database orat an authorized game unit. The button may then connected to a databaseconnector, or receptor. The button then receives and stores playerinformation and predictions information via the database connector. Theinformation is then stored on the button and within the central database or central management system.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method ofefficiently inputting predictions in prediction-based games. Users mayenter identification information and predictions through variouselectronic gaming systems on-site that are in communication with aremote central management system that stores information regarding thepredictions-based game, and operates accordingly. Embodiments of thepresent invention effectively eliminate the middle man because users maydirectly enter their predictions into an existing electronic gamingsystem.

While the invention has been described with reference to certainembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. In addition, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material tothe teachings of the invention without departing from its scope.Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to theparticular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will includeall embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A method of playing a predictions-based game based on a particularevent, comprising: inputting identification information into anelectronic gaming system through a user interface; inputting predictioninformation into the electronic gaming system through the userinterface; relaying the identification information and predictioninformation to a central management system that is configured to operatethe predictions-based game; monitoring the status of the particularevent; determining whether the prediction information is in accordancewith an outcome of the particular event at the central managementsystem; relaying results of said determining step to the electronicgaming system; and displaying the results of the particular event on adisplay of the electronic gaming system.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the electronic gaming system is an electronic dart game machinethat includes the user interface.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein theelectronic gaming system is a video game.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein the electronic gaming system is a parlor game having anactivation assembly.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronicgaming system is remotely located from a location where the particularevent is monitored.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the centralmanagement system is in communication with a plurality of electronicgaming systems.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular eventis a sporting event.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the particularevent is an election.
 9. A method of voting on a particular event,comprising: inputting voting information into an electronic gamingsystem through a user interface of an electronic gaming system; relayingthe voting information to a central management system that is configuredto tabulate vote totals; monitoring the status of the particular event;relaying results of the particular event to the electronic gamingsystem; and displaying the results of the particular event on a displayof the electronic gaming system.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein theelectronic gaming system is an electronic dart game machine thatincludes the user interface.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein theelectronic gaming system is a video game.
 12. The method of claim 9,wherein the electronic gaming system is a parlor game having anactivation assembly.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the electronicgaming system is remotely located from a location where the particularevent is monitored.
 14. The method of claim 9, wherein the centralmanagement system is in communication with a plurality of electronicgaming systems.
 15. The method of claim 9, wherein the particular eventis an election.
 16. A method of playing a predictions-based game basedon a particular event, comprising: inputting identification informationinto an electronic dart game system through a user interface; inputtingprediction information regarding the particular event into theelectronic dart game system through the user interface; relaying theidentification information and prediction information to a centralmanagement system that is remotely located from the electronic dart gamesystem; monitoring the status of the particular event at the centralmanagement system; determining whether the prediction information is inaccordance with an outcome of the particular event at the centralmanagement system; relaying results of said determining step to theelectronic dart game system; and displaying the results on a display ofthe electronic dart game system.
 17. The method of claim 16, furthercomprising player statistics regarding the prediction information andpast predictions at the central management system.
 18. The method ofclaim 17, further comprising relaying player statistics to theelectronic dart game system, and displaying the player statistics on thedisplay of the electronic dart game system.
 19. The method of claim 16,wherein the central management system is in communication with aplurality of electronic gaming systems.
 20. The method of claim 16,wherein the particular event is a sporting event.